A 32-year-old man, Abhilash Kumar, has been arrested in Gurugram days after a video went viral showing him allegedly flashing a woman at Rajiv Chowk. The incident occurred on the morning of August 2nd, around 11 am, when the woman, a model and digital content creator, was waiting for a taxi after returning from Jaipur.

According to reports, the woman, Soni Singh, noticed a man behaving suspiciously while she waited for her cab. She stated that the man approached her, stared continuously, and then unzipped his pants and allegedly masturbated in front of her. Singh recorded the incident on her phone. She said she felt unsafe, helpless, and disgusted by the incident.

Singh claimed that she attempted to contact the police and a women's helpline immediately after the incident but received no response. Frustrated by the lack of immediate assistance, she posted the video and photos of the accused on her social media accounts, including Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), bringing the incident to public attention. The video quickly went viral, sparking outrage and prompting the Gurugram police to take suo motu cognizance of the matter.

The police launched an investigation, scrutinizing footage from hundreds of CCTV cameras in the area to identify the suspect. Assistant Sub-Inspector Sandeep Kumar stated that the lack of CCTV coverage at the precise location of the incident made the identification process challenging. However, through technical investigation and persistent efforts, police were able to identify and arrest Abhilash Kumar in Sector 49.

Abhilash Kumar, a resident of Karnal, works as an assistant manager at a private firm in Gurugram's Sector 49 and resides in a rented house in Sector 11. During questioning, Kumar confessed to the crime, stating that he was returning from his son's parent-teacher meeting when he saw the woman at Rajiv Chowk and committed the act. Police have registered a case against him under sections 75(2) (sexual harassment) and 78 (stalking) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He was produced before a court on Wednesday for further proceedings. Police are currently conducting a background check to determine if he has any prior criminal record.

The incident has raised concerns about women's safety in public spaces, even in broad daylight. It also highlights the power of social media in bringing such incidents to light and prompting swift action from law enforcement.